MSU Extension Continues Efforts to Focus Programs, Serve Communities

Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report / HillsdaleCounty
20 Care Drive
Hillsdale, Michigan49242-5039
Phone: 517-439-9301 / E-mail:
Fax: 517-439-4290
Web: msue.msu.edu/hillsdale
November2010

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MSU Extension continues efforts to focus programs, serve communities

Since early 2009 MSU Extension has been working to focus its programming efforts to more effectively use its resources and provide vital educational resources to Michigan communities.

That effort resulted in the streamlining of administrative functions into 13 district offices and maintained programming staff to serve every Michigan community.

“From the beginning, as we’ve looked at how to realign our organization to improve efficiency, our first thought has always been that we need to continue to offer university resources that are also responsive to our county partners’ needs,” said Michelle Rodgers, MSU Extension associate director.

Through a series of town hall meetings over the past year, MSU Extension leaders explored what county government officials need from the organization. The findings from that effort showed that county government partners support MSU Extension’s need to change and its continuing local presence across the state. They expect MSU Extension to offer programs tied to agriculture and 4-H youth development, and also value agriculture-tourism, community development, land use, economic development, nutrition and health.

“Though we might be changing the way we interact with partners in county government, we’ll remain true to our core values of sharing MSU’s unbiased, research-driven resources to make a difference to Michigan’s communities, families, young people and businesses,” Rodgers said.

Realigned programming reflects focus in key arenas

MSU Extension staff members across the state and the campus have also worked with stakeholders in a number of areas to identify the most important topics upon which to focus efforts to contribute to helping strengthen and advance Michigan into a stronger, brighter future.

This effort resulted in establishment of four program institutes. The institutes and their directors are:

• Greening Michigan: Leveraging Natural and Human Assets for Prosperity--Rick Foster

• Enhancing Michigan’s First Green Industry: Agriculture and Agribusiness--Wendy Powers

• Preparing Michigan’s Children & Youth for the Future--Julie Chapin

• Improving Health and Nutrition for Michigan residents--Dawn Contreras

Within these institutes educators based across Michigan will interact with MSU campus-based specialists to develop programs intended to meet Michiganians’ most pressing needs.

Workgroups have been organized within each institute to strategically address issues. The workgroups are cross-disciplinary and comprise MSU Extension educators from across the state. The teams develop short-, medium- and long-range plans for addressing issues that include regular evaluations to ensure that they are staying on track and are connected to measureable goals.

To see an organizational chart with the institutes and the workgroups, visit

MSU Extension educates residents about Michigan’s Cottage Food Law

The 2010 Michigan Cottage Food Law went into effect July of this year. Twenty Hillsdale County residents attended the Small Farm Skills Forum on Aug. 10 to learn about this new law and food safety practices when selling food to the public.

Of those attending that session, 78 percent are planning on selling food products under the Cottage Food Law and the rest are undecided. All of the attendees said that the session provided them with the information that they expected.

When asked if as a result of attending the session they had more confidence in selling cottage foods to the public, 93 percent said yes. As a result of this session 69 percent said they would process jams and jellies in a hot water bath, 12 percent said they would not and 19 percent said they were not going to can jams and jellies.

This group indicated that they would be open to learning more about safely preparing and marketing the food products that they are now allowed to prepare in their home kitchens as a result of this new law.

The MSU Extension Food Safety team is working on more training opportunities for Michigan residents interested in selling cottage foods.

Dining with Diabetes

A four-part Diningwith Diabetes workshop was held in April.This program is aimed at individuals who are living with diabetes, their families and caregivers. It’s intended to help them learn to make food choices that do not contribute to diabetes complications.

Following the program 63 percent of the participants completed and returned an evaluation that was sent to them in July.

As a result of this workshopall of them made changes that has helped them to control their blood sugar levels, are doing better at controlling the amount of carbohydrates that they eat, use healthier recipes and read labels to check the grams of carbohydrates and fiber foods contain.

Eighty percent are using what they learned to control their eating, eat more vegetables andcheck carbohydrates when eating out.

Sixty percent exercise more than they did before the program, have lowered their blood sugar levels and have kept their blood sugar levels at a more stable level throughout the day/night.

Forty percent say they are more likely to use sugar substitutes before they did before the program.They all reported that Dining with Diabetes helped them cope with the daily challenges of living with diabetes.

All but one had shared the Dining with Diabetes information with family members, friends and co-workers.

Participants made comments that included, "It is nice to know that food can taste good and still be healthy!" Another one said, "I learned a lot from this class as to the proper way to live with diabetes. I now feel like I can control my diabetes better. Thanks so much for educating me."

MSU Extension helps residents improve home recordkeeping

Michigan’s struggling economy is challenging the local elected leaders, business owners, families and communities. MSU Extension is helping allof these audiences move to a brighter future.

Hillsdale County residents had the chance to build their personal finance knowledge and prepare for the upcoming tax season by taking part in one of three workshops offered by MSU Extension educators on better understanding what home records should be kept and which can be thrown away.

An evaluation following all of the programs showed that after the program, more than one third (35 percent) had set up a home recordkeeping system. More than half (52 percent) said that they already had a system set up before the session, but not a complete system as had been suggested in the program.

“ I hadn't given much thought to any of this before the meeting,” one person said. Another noted, “It helped me to be better organized. I had files, but no system.”